***IM SORRY IT TOOK SO LONG EVERYBODY! JUST STARTING A NEW JOB WEARS YOU OUT BUT I WORKED AS HARD AS I COULD TO GET A CHAPTER OUT. I PROMISE IT WONT BE AS LONG THE NEXT TIME. THE READERS I GOT FROM THE LAST CHAPTER WAS GREAT! PLEASE REVIEW AND LET ME KNOW WHAT YOU THINK!****
Edward stood in the same spot he had been standing in when Bella reached the top of the stairwell.
"Feel better?"
"A little." She said as she made her way down the stairs, "The embarrassment is still there though."
"Don't worry about it, you looked fine." He said as they made their way through the house and out the front door. "I have to say that you clean up well though."
Another awkward comment, she thought as her feet stopped halfway up the driveway.
"You OK?" He turned around once he realized that she wasn't following him.
"I, um, I left the coffee pot on." She turned around quickly and ran back in the house.
"Bella, are you sure you're ok?" Edward huffed as he ran to catch up with her.
"I wish you would stop asking me that," she said from the kitchen.
"Well you're acting like a teenager who just met her favorite celebrity."
"What's that supposed to mean?" she asked, the tone in her voice somewhat hostile.
"I mean you're jumpy. You've been bouncing around like a mad woman since I got here." He came into the kitchen slowly, his arms crossed hi front of his chest in defense. "And you got all weird around me at dinner, I just wanted to talk to you to see if I did something wrong."
"No you didn't." Bella mumbled her back to him.
"Really? Because it doesn't seem like it." He approached her, placing a hand on his shoulder.
She turned around at the shock of his touch, gasping when she realized his body was only inches from hers.
"I said I don't have a problem with you. Bella said quietly, her gaze never leaving his, "You just showed up here and honestly it kind of caught me off guard."
"I'm sorry," his hand still resting on her shoulder. "It was just how sad you looked last night, it got to me when we dropped you off."
"Well its not everyday your parents get divorced."
God he smells incredible.
Edward nodded, "Alice told me. She talked to me so I wouldn't sit there and worry about it. And as you can see, I listened real well."
Bella laughed, "Typical boy."
"Hey, I was concerned." Edward said in defense.
"Do you always get this close to someone you're concerned about?" She asked, unable to help the playful grub that pulled at her lips.
"No, but the funny thing is is that I have given myself plenty of reasons why I should back off but I cant."
Bella swore he could probably feel her heart beating, the beating so fierce she thought he chest was going to explode.
"Edward." She whispered as her eyes closed, her breath held as she waited for him to close the gap between them.
"Shit," Edward mumbled as loud piano music began to play from his pants pocket.
Bella leaned back against the kitchen counter as Edward broke their embrace, pulling the noisy phone out of his pocket.
"Yes mother," he huffed. "No I'm fine…Yea I went out….He what?...no no, that's great, I'm happy for him….Yea, I'm just at Alice's friends house, I was going to…" the conversation became harder and harder to hear as he exited the kitchen.
What just happened? Bella's mind swirled with confusion as she gripped the countertop to keep herself upright.
She didn't know him, no idea what his intentions were. And he got close, that's what bewildered her the most.
I don't need this right now. She thought, What is going on here?
It almost seemed like Edward had some sort of force over her, a force she couldn't begin to understand.
"Sorry about that," he mumbled as re-entered the kitchen.
"No that's ok, probably for the best anyway." Bella said, finding it hard to look at him.
"Bella, I have no idea what happened. That was a little weird.."
""Almost happened."
"Right," Edward ran a hand through his already elevated hair. "I just had a very strong urge to kiss you, which is ridiculous because we don't even really know each other."
"Exactly what I was thinking."
"So, shall we?"
"Shall we what?" Bella's nerves jumped.
"Do what I came here to do, show you around remember?"
"Oh right," Bella blushed. "Let's go, before this gets anymore awkward."
Edward stepped aside so Bella could get through the doorway and led the way out the front door.
"Coffee pots off right?" Edward asked as she locked the door.
"Yes," she smiled as they made their way down the driveway.
"Is that yours?" Bella asked, pointing the Acura TL that was parked at the end of the driveway.
Edward nodded, waving the keys at her.
"Let me drive?" She winked at him.
Edward chuckled, "Alice hasn't even driven this thing."
"There's a first time for everything." Bella said as she leaned against the car.
"Yes." Edward spread his arms so that both of his palms pressed against the car on either side of Bella, his face finding itself only inches from hers again, "There is."
"Edward, no more awkwardness remember?"
"Sorry," he mumbled and pushed off of the car and headed around to the drivers side.
"Edward," Bella said once they were inside. "I'm sorry."
"It's fine," he said quietly and started the car.
His eyes never left the windshield as he drove, not a word spoken between them.
Bella said and played with the hemline of her shirt.
Whatever was going on between her and Edward was driving her crazy. It didn't make any sense, it wasn't rational. It had her completely baffled. He had managed to force himself into her life with so much passion twice already, and she wanted to slap herself. Part of her didn't mind it.
"Edward, this doesn't look like downtown Forks." Bella spoke as they made their way down a windy road, thick rows of trees on both sides.
"That's because we aren't going to campus. I want to show you something I discovered when I first came to visit Alice here. It's nothing huge, I just thought it would be nice to go walk around." He shrugged and made the first left turn he could once they trees parted.
The road eventually opened up and guided them into an empty parking lot. Bella looked over at him curiously, "a parking lot?"
"Beyond that,:" he smiled. They continued across the parking lot until the reached the far edge of it. "Bella, welcome to La Push beach."
Bella remained quite as she climbed out of the car, her eyes darting around quickly. They had stopped in front of a tall metal railing where the gravel eventually gave way to smooth, tan sand. The beach was completely empty, which was completely different from the beaches Bella had visited in California.
The sand was untouched and smooth, the only sound she heard was the light crashing of the waves on the shore.
"It's so peaceful." Bella carefully ducked under the railing, her shoes almost completely engulfed in sand. "Are we allowed to be here?"
Edward laughed and climbed the railing, perching on the top rail. "Of course. It's always empty until a storm come near, then everybody flocks down here for the surf."
"This is great," Bella turned to smile at him. " I mean I know that Fork's isn't as chaotic as a major city or anything, but I don't know. Just being here gives you the chance to be able to think."
"I figured you'd need that, with everything that you have going on."
Bella sighed and kicked off her shoes, allowing her feet to be engulfed in the cool sand.
There it goes again.
"Will I ever accept that?" She thought aloud, throwing her arms up in frustration.
"Time heals all wounds," Edward shrugged.
"That's what everyone tells me," she sighed heavily. "But why don't I believe it?"
"It just happened yesterday Bella."
"I know, I know. But its like whenever I get a minute to sit down and think about things, I'm just questioning my ability to adapt to all of this,"
"I think you'll be fine honestly. You have a brother that cares about you and new friends that provide a pretty steady support system. I think you're better off than you think."
"You've been spending too much time with Jasper."
Edward chuckled, " Hey he's a smart guy."
"Edward, can I be honest?"
He only nodded, remaining silent as he waited for her to continue.
"Whatever it is that you and I have going on, its bothering the shit out of me. And honestly, I feel terrible."
"About?"
"About whatever of it what is going on here."
"Between you and me?"
"Yes," she sighed heavily.
He sighed and gripped the railing a little tighter, "I don't know either Bella. But what good does it do sitting here worrying about it?"
"It doesn't bother you?" Bella asked, her back to him.
"I suppose, but it's hard for me to sit here and stress over something that I'm so unsure of. I don't know what 'this' is." He hopped off of the railing and walked towards her, "I'm not normally like this around women I've just met but I'm not going to look at it as a bad thing."
"That leaves so much unanswered."
"You have a problem with that don't you?" he chuckled.
"You noticed huh?"
Edward nodded, "You're forehead wrinkles and you bit you lips hen you get stressed about something."
"What are you, a psych major?"
"As a matter of fact, I am."
Bella rolled her eyes, "Figures."
"What about you?"
"English major, trying to get into the grad program at Washington."
"I know some people there, I'll see if I can help you out at all."
'Is there anything you cant do?"
"Not that I've encountered," he grinned.
"Typical male thought," she chided.
"Well I'm right aren't I?"
"OK then, let's see how good you are." Bella grinned, "if you beat me to the end of this stretch of beach you can keep you're 'I'm better than you' thoughts."
Edward stare down the smooth stretch of beach, a group of boulders sat as their destination. "Alright, you're on."
Bella grinned and traced a line in the sand with her toe, "Let's do it then."
"Alright on the count of…"
Bella shot off just as Edward reached the line.
"Bella!" Edward hollered and immediately too off, stumbling in the sand as he tried to run.
"You cheated!" He huffed.
"Well as an all mighty male you should be able to compensate for it.:
"Don't tempt me," he glared at her.
His pace quickened as his legs took longer strides, the sand not slowing him down. His arm stretched out, grabbing on the back of Bella's shirt.
"No!" Bella shrieked as Edward managed to wrap his arm around her waist, pulling her towards the sand. "How did you catch up to me?"
"All superior male right?" Edward laughed, brushing the sand off of his face.
Bella broke into laughter as he wiggled his eyebrows at her, pulling her close with his free arm.
"You're doing it again," she whispered as she leaned into him.
"Do you mind?" He whispered.
"You know.." Bella shrieked suddenly as an icy cold sensation ran down her back. "Now that I mind!"
Edward rolled over to see a wave coming at them, "hurry! Get up! The tide's coming in!"
Bella gripped onto him as they stumbled to get up and run from the next onslaught of water.
"So cold!" Bella shivered as their feet hit dry sand, "Why does it have to be so cold?"
"Because you cheated," Edward shivered himself as he managed a smile. "Come on, we've got to get out of here before we catch something."
Edward wrapped an arm around her, pressing her close to him.
"You're freezing too you know," she chuckled.
"Sorry, I'm trying here," Edward said as he fumbled for his keys.
The two couldn't climb into the car fast enough, Edwards fingers immediately going for the heat controls.
"Now what?" Bella asked as she scooted as close to the heat vents as she could.
"I've got an idea," Edward said as he started the car up. "My house isn't far from here, and I'm pretty sure you can fit into some of Alice's stuff."
"Thanks," Bella said as her teeth chattered.
"We'll be there before you know it." He reassured her, a smile on his lips.
"Don't kill us on the way," Bella watched as the trees outside passed by quickly.
"Don't worry, we're not far."
Edward continued down the road for a few miles until they came to a small opening, a black mailbox with "Cullen" etched into it.
"Is this where you live?" She awed as they pulled into a large driveway, ending in front of a glass covered house.
"You got it. This place changed my living plans completely once Carlisle showed me the layout for this place," Edward looked up at his home through his sunglasses. "Why live in an apartment when you could live here?"
"I'd have to agree," Bella said as she followed Edward inside.
The inside was just as captivating as the outside walls, the sun brightened the white walls that surrounded several pieces of art.
And it just keeps getting better.
"Where's you family?" Bella asked.
The house was silent despite its bright interior, her ears only catching the sound of Edwards shoes hitting the hardwood floor.
"Carlisle landed large case today, they all went out for lunch earlier." Edward's hand brushed her hip as he started for the stairwell, "Come on. We'll get you changed."
Bell shivered at his touch, taking a moment before following him up the stairs. She remained a few paces behind him as they approached Alice's room, Bella deciding to wait outside as Edward searched through his sisters closet.
"I think this will do," he returned with a pair of jeans and a black t-shirt in his arms.
Bella thanked him and stepped into the large bathroom across the hall, goose bumps rising on her skin as she peeled her wet shirt off. She turned quickly when a crashing noise could be heard from outside, her body stumbling over her fresh pair of clothes that lay on the floor.
Edward fumbled for something on the floor, scooping it up and placing it back on the side table in the hallway.
"You ok?" She asked, rushing into the hallway to see if he was hurt.
"Slipped," he chuckled. " Esme moves stuff around a lot in here."
His eyes skimmed over her pale figure, the upper half of her body only covered by the white bra Rosalie had bought for her,
Oh shit. She cursed to herself as she realized her shirt was missing.
"Hey, don't." Edward's surprisingly warm hand landed on the cool skin of her arm, causing her to stop in the doorway of the bathroom.
"I'm not changed, and I look ridiculous…"
"No you don't, I wish you'd stop saying that." His arms wrapped around her waist, his forehead resting on hers.
"Edward.."
"What?" His voice steady despite the fit his nerves were throwing inside of him.
"I don't know."
"Surprises are some of the best things that can happen in your life you know," he said and let his lips press against hers.
Bella's body practically melted as he kissed her, a warm feeling washing over her body.
Any sort of reasoning her mind had been desperately searching for all day had vanished, giving way to the sensation his touch gave her.
His warm hand cupped her cheek as he continued to kiss her, her back pressing against the bathroom door as his body pressed against hers.
"Bella wait, are you ok with this?" He asked as deep breaths moved in and out of his lungs.
"I don't know," she paused. "But you know what, I don't care."
I cant believe this,,
"Just kiss me."